Company:

Pharmacologic class:

Active ingredients:

Indication:

To eradicate Helicobacter pylori, in combination with omeprazole, in patients with H. pylori infection and duodenal ulcer disease (active or history of).

Pharmacology:

Pylera combines the antimicrobial agent, bismuth subcitrate potassium, with two antibiotics, metronidazole and tetracycline. Bismuth subcitrate potassium has similar effects as bismuth subsalicylate; however, it does not carry the risks associated with the salicylate moiety found in other products.

Tetracycline interacts with the 30S subunit of the bacterial ribosome and inhibits protein synthesis. Metronidazole is metabolized through reductive pathways into reactive intermediates that have cytotoxic action.

Pylera should be taken in combination with omeprazole, and it should be used only to treat or prevent infections that are proven to be or are strongly suspected of being caused by susceptible bacteria.

Clinical trials:

An open-label, parallel-group, active-controlled, multicenter study involving 275 H. pylori-positive patients with current duodenal ulcer or history of duodenal ulcer disease was conducted in the United States and Canada. Patients were randomized to receive either Pylera + omeprazole or clarithromycin + amoxicillin + omeprazole. H. pylori eradication was defined as two negative 13C-urea breath tests performed at four and eight weeks post-therapy. On an intent-to-treat basis, the eradication rates, although not statistically significant, were 87.7% for the Pylera + omeprazole group vs. 83.2% for the clarithromycin + amoxicillin + omeprazole group.

Adults:

Take with 8 oz water. Three caps four times daily after meals and at bedtime for 10 days (give with omeprazole 20 mg twice daily with breakfast and dinner for 10 days).

Precautions:

Interactions:

Avoid alcohol during and for at least one day after therapy. Recent (within two weeks) therapy with disulfiram: not recommended. May antagonize oral contraceptives (use nonhormonal backup method). May interfere with bactericidal anti-infectives (e.g., penicillin).

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